Hebert to forego Rockland council re-election bid

ROCKLAND, Maine — Dr. Eric Hebert, who has served on the City Council for the past nine years, announced Wednesday he is not seeking re-election this fall.

“I was personally torn about running for a fourth term. In the end, after considerable soul-searching, I have decided not to seek another term,” Hebert said in a news release. “Circumstances with my practice demand more of my time, and I definitely want to spend more time with my family.”

“I have felt privileged to serve Rockland’s citizens over the past nine years. Earning your confidence to elect me for three consecutive terms has been humbling, and I have taken my responsibility to serve seriously,” Hebert said.

“Each time I ran for office, I only promised to do the best that I could. Rotary International has a motto: ‘Service above self.’ I have taken that motto and applied it to my service on City Council,” Hebert said in his release. “I have never thought of how any issue, regardless of the level of controversy, might affect me. Instead, I have strived to understand the issue at hand, listen to all sides, digest the best information available, and then make decisions that I felt were in the best interests of Rockland as a whole.”

The deadline for filing nomination papers to get on the Nov. 4 ballot is Sept. 22.